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CHAPTER XII.

A DUEL, AND CAPTURE BY THE APACHES.

THE Indians came slowly towards us; not all, but a large number of them, for Tangua had left a portion of them to guard the Apaches. On reaching the spot a hollow square was formed, of which three sides were filled in by Kiowas, our men occupying the fourth side.

The chief then gave a signal, and from the ranks of the Indians strode a warrior whose proportions were absolutely gigantic. Laying aside all his weapons except his knife, he stripped off his clothing to his waist. No one could look upon his knotted muscles and not be anxious for me. The chief led him into the middle of the square, and announced to us in a voice ringing with the certainty of triumph: " Here stands Metan-Akva [Lightning Knife], the strongest warrior of the Kiowas, whose knife no man has withstood; his enemy dies beneath his blows as though struck by lightning. He will fight Old Shatterhand, the pale-face."

" Lord help us ! " whispered Sam to me; " he's a real Goliath. My dear boy, it's all up with you."

" Nonsense ! "

" Don't forget there's only one way to conquer this fellow, and that is to make the fight a short one. Let the end be quick, for he can tire you out, and then you're lost. How's your pulse ? "


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He put his fingers on my wrist, counted, and then said: " Thank God, not more than sixty beats, and perfectly regular. You're not excited ? Aren't you a bit afraid ? "

" It wouldn't do to be upset or afraid in a case that depends on calm blood and eye. The chief has selected this giant because he is invincible, and we'll see whether he really is so or not."

While I was talking I, too, had stripped the upper part of my body, for, although it was not necessary, I did not wish it to appear that I desired to shield myself from the knife. I gave my gun and revolver to Sam, and stepped forth into the middle of the square. One could almost see the throbbing of good Sam Hawkins' heart, but I felt undisturbed, and confidence is the first requisite for a combat.

The chief summoned us to take our places. Lightning Knife looked me over contemptuously, and said in a loud voice: " The body of this feeble pale-face throbs with fear; is he afraid to enter the ring ? "

Scarcely had these words been uttered than I stopped into the southward circles thus bringing my back towards the sun, while it shone info my adversary's eyes and blinded him. This may seem like taking an unfair advantage, but considering I had never fought with knives before, while he was renowned for his skill with them, this did not make up for the advantages on his side, and it was perfectly fair. Tenderness towards my opponent was worse than foolish; any weakness on my part would not only have cost me my life, but the lives of the Apaches for whom I fought; so, though a life-


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and-death combat is a horrible thing, I was forced to do my best to kill this Hercules.

" He is actually going to try," laughed Lightning Knife scornfully. " My knife shall drink his blood. The Great Spirit gives him into my hand by taking away his senses."

Among Indians this sort of preliminary fight with tongues is customary, and I should have been considered cowardly if I had stood silent, so I answered: "You fight with the mouth, but I have here a knife; take your place if you are not afraid."

He bounded into the other circle, crying angrily "Afraid ! Metan-Akva afraid ! Did you hear that, ye Kiowa braves ? I will have this white dogs life with my first stroke."

" My first stroke will be the end of you. Now silence. You should not be called Metan-Akva, but Avat-Ya [Big Mouth]."

"Avat-Ya, Avat-Ya ! This coyote pig dares insult me; my blade shall eat his bowels."

This last threat was very short-sighted on his part, for it gave me a hint as to the manner and place in which his weapon would be used. So he did not mean to stab my heart, but give a knife-thrust below, and rip my body.

We stood quite close, so that neither had to bend much to reach his foe. Metan-Akva's right arm hung straight down; he held the knife so that the hilt rested on his little finger, and the blade stuck out from between the thumb and index-finger, the edge turned upward. This showed that I was right: he intended to strike upward


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from below, for if he were going to strike downward he would have held the knife in the opposite way, that is, so that the hilt lay against the thumb, with the blade thrust outward through the fist by the little finger. Then I knew the way in which I was to be attacked; now the main thing was to know the exact moment, which his eyes would tell me. I knew the peculiar flash of the eyes which in such cases precedes a blow.

I dropped my eyelids to let him feel more secure, but only watched him closer through the lashes. " Strike, dog ! " he cried.

" Be silent, and act, you red thief ! " I replied.

That was a great insult, which must be followed either by an angry answer or the attack, and the latter thereupon ensued.

An angry dilation of his pupil warned me, and the next moment his right arm struck quickly and forcibly upward to rip my body like an old coat. Had I been looking for a blow downward it would have been all over with me, but I parried his thrust with my knife, and cut him deeply in the forearm.

" Dog ! swine ! " he shrieked, dropping his knife in rage and pain.

" Don't talk; fight," I said, raising my arm, and then my knife was in his heart up to the hilt. I instantly drew it out. The stroke was so true that a little stream of red blood spurted out on me. My foe swung backward and forward, groaned, and fell to the earth dead.

A wrathful howl burst from the Indians, but only the chief moved; he came out from the others and knelt by my adversary, examined the wound, rose, and gave me


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a look which I shall not soon forget. It was eloquent of fear, hatred, amazement, and admiration. He would have gone away without a word, but I said: " Do you see that I am still in my place, while Metan-Akva has left his ? Who has conquered ? "

" You have," he answered angrily, and went away; but after taking five or six steps he turned back, and snarled at me: "You are a white son of the wicked spirit. Our medicine-men will find out your charm, and then you shall give up your life to us."

" Do what you like with your medicine-men, but keep your word with us."

" What word ? " he asked haughtily.

" That the Apaches should not be killed."

" We will not kill them; I have said it, and will hold to it."

" And they shall be free ? "

" Yes, they shall be free. What Tangua, the chief of the Kiowas, has said shall be done."

" Then I will go with my friends and untie them."

" I will do that myself when the time comes."

" It has come, for I have conquered."

" Silence ! Did we speak of the time ? "

" It was not specified, but it is evident -"

" Silence ! " he thundered again. " I will decide the time. We will not kill the Apache dogs, but can we help it if they die for want of food or drink ? How can I help it if they starve before I free them ? "

" Rascal ! " I cried.

" Dog, speak another word like that, and -"

He did not finish his threat, but checked himself,


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looking me in the face, which could not have been pleasant to look upon.

I completed his interrupted sentence. " And I'll knock you down with my fist, you vilest of all liars."

He sprang back, drew his knife, growling: " You will not get near me again with your fist. If you come one step towards me I'll stab you."

" So your Lightning Knife said, and tried to do, but you see he lies there. I will consult my white friends as to what shall be done with the Apaches. But if you harm a hair of their heads, you are lost. Remember, I can blow you all up."

With these words I went back to Sam, who could not hear the conversation between the chief and me, because of the howling of the Indians. He sprang to meet me, seized both my hands, crying: " Welcome, my dear, dear boy ! you have come back out of the jaws of death. Dick, Will, see here; what do you think of this tenderfoot ? But foolhardy men are always the luckiest, and the worst root grows the biggest potato. When you went into that circle my heart stood still; I could not breathe, and my thoughts were full of how I'd carry out this tenderfoot's last will and testament. But a thrust, a stab, and the redskin rolled on the ground. Now we've gained our end, and the Apaches are free."

" You're mistaken there," I said.

" Mistaken ? How so ? "

" The chief made a mental reservation in his promise, which now comes to light."

" I mistrusted that," cried Sam. " What is his reservation ? "


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I repeated Tangua's words to him, and he was so angry that he instantly started off to see the chief. I resumed the clothing and weapons I had laid down, and thought over the Situation. Evidently the Kiowas had been confident that Lightning Knife would kill me, and they were furious over the result of our encounter. They could not fall upon us, since it was a life-and-death fight, and the survivor was promised security; but they would find some excuse for a quarrel; of that we might be sure.

The chief was occupied attending to the body of the dead warrior, and Sam found him in no mood to lend an ear to his protests. He strode back to me in high dungeon, and said: " The fellow absolutely refuses to keep his word. He means to starve the prisoners to death, and he calls that not killing them. But we'll keep our eyes open, and get a shot at him."

" Provided we don't get a shot that is a boomerang," I remarked.

" I think myself we'd better be ready to protect ourselves, for our life may be in danger any moment. Lord help us, the moment's come ! " he cried. " The Apaches have arrived, and there'll be a lovely row. Get ready for the fight, gentlemen."

Over beyond, where the prisoners and their guards were, rose that instant the shrill H-i-i-i-i-i-h, the war-cry of the Apaches. Contrary to all expectation, Intschu-Tschuna and Winnetou had already come back with their warriors, and had attacked the camp of the Kiowas. Those who were near us paused in amusement,


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and then the chief shouted: " The foe among our brothers ! Quick, quick, and help them."

He would have rushed back, but Sam Hawkins cried: " You can't go; don't you see we are surrounded ? Do you suppose the Apache chiefs are such fools as only to attack your guards and not know where you are ? "

He spoke rapidly; but before he had quite finished, the awful, soul-piercing cry arose around us. We were standing, as already said, on an open prairie, and had been so occupied that the Apaches had crawled behind the bush which had served us in our attack on Tangua, and had surrounded us without our knowledge, and now sprang upon us from all sides in overpowering numbers. The Kiowas shot at them with some effect, but not enough to reckon.

" Don't kill an Apache; not one ! " I shouted to our three scouts, for already the deadly battle raged around us.

The head engineer and the three surveyors defended themselves, and were cut down. While my eyes were riveted on this awful sight I did not see anything that went on around me. We were attacked by a considerable band, and separated from one another. Although we cried out to the Apaches that we were their friends, it had no effect: they flew at us with tomahawks, and we perforce had to defend ourselves, however loath to do so. With our guns wielded as clubs we struck down so many that we won a little breathing-time for ourselves, during which I looked about me. Sam, Parker, and Stone ran towards the bushes where the fight was


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still hot, and, after making sure that the surveyors were beyond help, I followed. I had scarcely reached the bush when Intschu-Tschuna himself came up. He and Winnetou had been with that band of Apaches which had captured the camp and freed their kinsmen. This achieved, both chiefs had run to the assistance of the main body which we had encountered, Intschu-Tschuna considerably in advance of his son.

As he bounded around the hush he saw me, and exclaiming: " Land-thief ! " raised his silver-studded rifle to knock me down. I cried out to him that I was not his enemy, but he would not listen, only redoubling his efforts to strike me. There was but one thing to do: if I would not be overcome, perhaps killed, I must disable him. As he raised his arm again for a blow I threw away my gun, with which I had parried his strokes, hung on his neck by my left arm, and with my right fist gave him a blow on the temple. His rifle dropped, he staggered and fell. Then behind me a joyful voice cried: " That is Intschu-Tschuna, the chief of the Apache dogs. I must have his scalp."

Turning around I saw Tangua, the Kiowa chief, who had come upon the scene just as all this happened. He dropped his gun, drew his knife, and stooped over the unconscious Apache to scalp him. I seized his arm and said: " Take your hands off. I have conquered him; he is mine."

" Be silent, white vermin ! " he snarled. " What have I to do with you ? The chief is mine. Get out, or -" He finished his sentence by striking at me with his knife and seizing me with his left hand. I did not want


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to stab him, so did not draw my own knife, but threw myself upon him and tried to free myself from his grasp. Failing in this, I choked him till he could not move, and then bent over Intschu-Tschuna, whose face was bleeding from my knuckles. Just then I heard a rustle behind me, and turned to see whence it same. This movement saved me, for I received on the shoulder a violent blow which had been intended for my head, and would certainly have broken it. It came from Winnetou. He had been behind his father, as I have said before, and coming around the bush he saw me kneeling over the chief, who lay bleeding and apparently lifeless, and he promptly gave me the almost fatal blow with the butt of his gun. Then he dropped the gun, drew his knife, and fell upon me.

My position was as bad as it could be. The blow had shaken my whole body and lamed my arm. I tried to explain to Winnetou, but he gave me no chance for a word. He stabbed me, and the point of the knife struck the edge of the tin box in which I carried my papers, glanced up through my neck, and pierced my tongue, but for which it would certainly have entered my heart. Then Winnetou withdrew the knife, and held it ready for the second stroke, his hand at my throat. The fear of death doubled my strength; I could use only one arm and hand, and he lay across me sidewise. I caught his right hand, and squeezed it till he dropped the knife; then I seized his left arm at the elbow and pulled him over till he had to let go of my throat. Then I lifted his knees, and with all my strength pushed myself from under him, which threw the upper part of his body


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on the ground. The next moment I was on his back, and our positions were reversed.

The question now was how to hold him down, for if he got up I was lost. Setting one knee on his thigh and one on his arm, I caught him around the neck with my one useful arm, while with the other hand he was feeling for his knife, fortunately in vain. Now followed an awful struggle between us; yet could I have spoken, one word would have sufficed to clear up the situation, but blood flowed in streams from my mouth, and when I tried to speak with my pierced tongue I could only stammer unintelligibly.

Winnetou exerted all his strength to throw me off, but I lay on him like a mountain not to be gotten rid of. He began to gasp, and I pressed my fingers into his windpipe so tight that he could not breathe. Must I kill him ? Not in any case. I freed his throat for a moment, and he instantly raised his head, which gave me the chance I wanted. One, two, three good blows with my fist in quick succession, and Winnetou was unconscious: I had conquered Winnetou the unconquered. I drew a deep, deep breath as well as I could and not draw down my throat the blood which filled my mouth and streamed as fast from the external wound. As I tried to rise I heard an angry howl from an Indian behind me, and received a blow on the head which knocked me senseless.

When I came to myself it was evening; so long had I lain unconscious. Everything seemed to me like a dream; I felt as though I had fallen down beside the wall of a mill-wheel, which could not turn because I


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was wedged between its paddles and the wall. The water rushed over me, and the force which should have turned the wheel pressed on me stronger and stronger till I thought that I should be crushed. All my limbs were in pain, especially my head and one shoulder. By degrees I realised that the mill was not a reality, but delirium, and the roaring and rushing was not water, but the result of the blow which had felled me. And the pain in my shoulder was not caused by a mill-wheel crushing me, but by the blow which Winnetou had given me. The blood flowed from my mouth; it rushed into my throat and choked me, and I awoke fully to myself.

" He moves; oh, thank God, he moves ! " I heard Sam say. I had opened my eyes, but what I saw was far from consoling. We were still on the spot where the fight had taken place. Over twenty camp-fires were burning, between which certainly five hundred Apaches were moving about. Many were wounded, and a large number lay dead on two sides, the nearest being the Apaches, and those on the opposite side, a little farther away, the Kiowas. Around us were the captive Kiowas, all strongly bound; not one had escaped, and Tangua, the chief, was among them. At a little dim fence apart I saw a man lying with his body drawn together in a ring, for the evident purpose of being tortured. It was Rattler. His comrades were no longer alive, having been shot at once; but he, as the murderer of Kleki-Petrah, was reserved for a slow and agonising death. I was bound hand and foot, as were Parker and Stone, who lay on my left. At my right I saw Sam


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Hawkins, who was fastened by his feet, and his right hand was bound against his back, but his left hand was free, as I learned later, in order to tend me.

" Thank Heaven, you are conscious again, my dear Jack," he said, stroking my face lovingly with his free hand. " How do you feel ? Do you want anything ? " I tried to answer, but could not. I saw Sam bending over me with anxious eyes, but I heard and saw no more, for again I sank into unconsciousness.

Upon regaining my senses I felt myself in motion, and heard the tread of many horses' feet. I opened my eyes. I was lying on the skin of the grizzly bear I had killed, which was drawn together into a hammock and hung between two horses, which were thus bearing me somewhere. I lay so deep in the skin that I could see only the heads of the horses and the sky above me. The sun shone down on me, burning like molten lead, and swelling my veins. My mouth was swollen and full of blood; I tried to move my tongue, but could not. " Water, water," I tried to say, for I was consumed with thirst, but I could only utter a hoarse groan. I said to myself that it was all over with me, and tried to think of God, and make a true act of contrition, and ask the mercy I was so soon to need, and turn my eyes to the land on the shore of which I stood; but again weakness overcame me. This time I fought with Indians, buffaloes, and bears, rode for life and death over scorching plains, swam for months over shoreless seas - in short, had a fever, caused by my wounds, in which I struggled hard and long with death. Occasionally I heard Sam Hawkins' voice, but far, far away; occasionally, too, I


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saw a pair of dark, velvety eyes - Winnetou's eyes. Then I died, was laid in my coffin and buried. I heard the earth shovelled on the coffin, and lay in the ground a whole unbroken eternity, unable to move, till the lid of my coffin noiselessly slid off and disappeared. Was all this true ? Could I be dead ? I raised my hand to my forehead, and - " Hallelujah ! Oh, thank God ! He comes back from death; he is alive ! " cried Sam.


Chapter XIII

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